Self-supporting shelf



(No Model.)

G. M. KLINELINE.

SELF SUPPORTING SHELF.

Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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uQZZor-n e 3/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. KLINELINE, OF MIDDLETOXVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-SUPPORTING SHELF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,731, dated November 4, 1890.

' Application filed May 16, 1890. Serial No. 352,108. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. KLINELINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Supporting Shelves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to drop or extension leaves or shelves for tables, ranges, sewinglnachines, type-writers, &c.,but more particularly for stoves, ranges, and the like; and it consists in a combined hinge and locking and bracing lugs, whereby the extension-leaf is held securely and rigidly in its raised position and is readily placed in position or detached and lowered.

Heretofore in devices of this kind the leaf when raised has been secured in such position by a vertically-hinged brace, which is turned out beneath it, or by sliding supports recessed beneath the main top or cover and drawn out so as to sustain the extension; but all devices of this class soon shrink or wear or become sprung, so that the leaf or extension quickly sags below the plane of the top and presents a bad surface to work upon and an unsightly appearance, and unless care is always taken in adjusting the support it is liable to be but partially drawn out and in position to readily fall, or to bring too great a leverage upon the hinge when the leaf is made to sustain a heavy load.

The object of my invention is to make the fastening automatic and perfect, so that the leaf can be raised and secured in that position without inspection or adjustment and can as readily be lowered, and to provide a hinge and fastening that will maintain the leaf in the plane or level of the top without yielding or sagging below the same, and, further, to make the device simple and inexpensive and easily operated and understood, all as will be fully explained, and as shown in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a section on the line a: so of Fig. 7. Fig. 2 is a like View with the drop-leaf lowered. Fig. 3 is a front view of Fig. 2. Fig.

4. is a front and Fig. 5 a side view of part of the extension-leaf, the half-hinge, and looking and bracing lugs. Fig. 6 is a side View of a portion of the main top, showing the housing in side elevation. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the top with the leaf raised. Figs. 8 and 9 show modified forms of construction, or a diiferent arrangement of the bracing-lug and shoulder.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views.

To the main top or table A, I attach the half of ahinge a. (Shown in side elevation in Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 9, in front elevation in Fig. 3, and in dotted lines in the plan, Fig. 7.) This hinge constitutes a housing open only at the front and bottom, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, 'or upon a part of its lower surface, as shown in Fig. 6. It is provided with holes I) for the hinge-pin b, and with a bracing surface or shoulder c. This hinge is, as shown, integral with the rib cl, which is out through at e to admit the part F of the extension top or leaf B. The part F is provided with an enlarged hole I) for the hinge-pin and with a bracing-lug g. A locking-lug 77. upon the extension-leaf, a little to one side of the part F, is arranged to engage with the rib (Z of the top A by means of a recess 1' in said top,"as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The table A may have a series of these recesses, or, preferably, one at each side of the hinge and near the same, and the leaf B may be provided with lugs to fit each of these recesses. There may also be as many hinges as desired with reference to the strength required in the device.

I may in some cases omit the lugs h and recesses 1', depending upon the pin 1) and lug g to hold the leaf.

As here shown and described, the parts are as provided for the top of a stove or range; but the same may obviously be arranged in pairs in the form of hinges, adapted for attachinent of drop-leaves or extension-leaves to any article of furniture.

The'operation is as follows, assuming the parts to be in the position shown at Fig. 2: The leaf B is raised to the horizontal position, the lug g inside the housing a retaining the end of the slot 12 nearest said lug in close engagement with the hinge-pin until the leaf is in a horizontal position and slightly elevated above the surface of the top A, the lockinglug It being then directly above the recess 1'. In this position the lug g is clear of the housing a, and the leaf B descends vertically, the lug h engaging the recess i and lug g engaging the shoulder 0, thus locking the parts in position. I11 unlocking and lowering the leaf it is raised vertically to remove the lugs h and g from engagement and permit it to turn on the hinge, the lug 75 coming in contact with the shoulder c and maintaining the leaf in Vertical position.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be varied within the limits of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a hinge, the housing at, having the shoulder c, and the pin Z), in combination with the slotted extension F, having the lug g, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a hinge for drop-leaves, the housing at, having the shoulder c, and the pin Z), in combination with the slotted half-hinge F, having the lugs g and 7c, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a hinge for drop-leaves, the part having the housing a, the shoulder c, the pin 7), and the recess 1', in combination with the part having the slot U, the shoulder g, and the locking-lug h, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. KLINELINE. Witnesses:

JOHN W. KLINELINE, HARRY K. Hess. 

